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December 27, 2023
FOND DU LAC – Travelers, truckers and Fond du Lac locals alike have often patronized a restaurant called The Stretch located at 565 North Pioneer Road, just off Interstate 41.
For most of 2023, however, visitors would have found the popular spot closed down.
That is, until new owner Shpendi Alimi reopened its doors in November.
Growing up in the Wausau area, Alimi said he knew about The Stretch from traveling to Milwaukee Bucks games as a child.
He said a friend told him how he tried to stop into the restaurant to eat last February only to discover it was no longer in business.
Alimi said he’s worked with his father in restaurants since he was 12 years old, so he went – with his father joining him to consult – to view the then-empty location.
“Basically, there was nothing here,” he said. “A couple of booths were ripped, so I said, ‘Dad, what do you think?’ And he said, ‘This is a good spot. I always knew it existed, and it was always busy.’”
Though he said he was convinced he was finished working in the restaurant industry, Alimi said this was too great an opportunity – reopening a beloved restaurant at this location – to pass up.
Though new owner Shpendi Alimi updated the restaurant space and menu, the name – The Stretch Restaurant – remains the same. Submitted Photo
“I said, ‘Dad, we can do it. The place is nice,’” he said. “I knew it would take a little money to invest, but I didn’t think I’d have to do basically everything.”
However, once work started, Alimi said the project turned into renovating “basically everything” – including new flooring, replacing walls and drywall, painting and some plumbing work, in addition to installing booths, tables and chairs.
“The only thing that was here was the walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer and the (ventilation) hoods,” Alimi said. “Everything else, I brought.”
Alimi said he gained access to the building in May, commuting and devoting strenuous hours to renovation.
“A lot of nights I stayed morning until night – one, two in the morning – and then drove home to Merrill, and drove back the next day to work,” he said. “A lot of the work – we did (all the work) ourselves with family and friends.”
Alimi said the renovation allowed him to open up the restaurant’s space to comfortably seat more than 60 customers at a time.
He said he also hired an electrician to brighten the space.
“I lightened it up – it was pretty dark in here,” he said. “So far everybody’s liking it.”
Though the inside of the restaurant’s been renovated, Alimi said he decided to keep the name the same.
“I chose to keep the name because it’s been here so long,” he said. “I’m hoping I’m going to win the people back… I encourage them to come and see the updated Stretch.”
Alimi said he did, however, update and personalize The Stretch’s food and dessert offerings based on his extensive experience in the food service industry.
“I’ve got my own menu – everything is the way I do my things,” he said?.
Alimi said The Stretch’s breakfast items, which are served all day, are perhaps the most popular among customers, but the whole menu has been well received.
Shpendi Alimi said the menu at The Stretch Restaurant has a little bit of everything – from breakfast all the way up to dinner. Submitted Photo
“We do everything, basically – from breakfast all the way up to dinner,” he said. “We have a pasta selection, Friday fish fry, stir fry and American food like liver and onions, (of) which we go through a lot, and everybody’s loving it.”
The Stretch, Alimi said, also sells many pies, made from scratch and delivered from Main Street Café near Eau Claire, which he said his customers describe as “to die for.”
Welcome back
Alimi said he’s not sure whether many are aware that The Stretch has reopened, but said the restaurant is starting to see return customers and new regulars.
The Stretch currently has about 15 employees, including some who used to work under its previous management, Alimi said.
Alimi said he is at The Stretch working hard every day, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, out of gratitude for his customers.
“I appreciate them, so thanks for supporting us,” he said. “And I’m here to stay. I have a five-year lease with an option for another five. If they keep supporting me, I’ll stick around.”
Alimi said he hopes the changes he’s made to The Stretch will spread by word of mouth and looks forward to the chance to serve new and former customers.
“They won’t be disappointed,” he said. “They will never leave hungry. They will be full, plus probably take some home.”
Visit The Stretch Restaurant’s Facebook page to view menu items, hours and specials.
